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MichaelMaggs (talk | contribs) Changing short description from "Device to reduce the potential for electrical injury and limit damage due to lightning strikes" to "Device protecting from electrical spikes" |
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{{Short description|Device protecting from electrical spikes}}
{{no footnotes|date=May 2014}}
'''Network isolators''' are installed as part of a wired [[Ethernet]] system as [[galvanic isolation|galvanic isolators]] to reduce the potential for [[electrical injury]] and limit the extent of damage due to [[lightning]] strikes.
Through the applied principle of [[electromagnetic induction]], network data is transmitted across an electrically non-conducting barrier. High frequency [[AC voltage]]s conveying [[Data (computing)|data]] are [[transformer|induced]] across an isolating gap.
The network isolator is a [[passive device]], and functions without any requirement of an external power supply. A functional equivalent to network isolators is Ethernet over a small stretch of [[optical fibre]], using media converters or Ethernet switches/network cards with fiber connections on each end.
==Applications==
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=== Medical ===
Network isolators are used in
Network connections between [[medical device]]s and [[Ethernet]] networks (and other non-medical devices, such as [[personal computer]]s) must be in accordance with the [[IEC 60601-1]] standard. This standard specifically deals with medical electronic and electrical equipment and systems, and classifies non-medical devices as potential hazard sources. A specific hazard stems from possible differences in ground potentials between network components, which, when not properly isolated, can result in a leakage current that can flow through the patient, which is dangerous, and potentially [[high voltage#Safety|lethal]]. Such voltage differences can also arise through incorrect installation and wiring of network systems, electrical shorting within damaged cables and cabling, or shorting between damaged network cables and other voltage sources.
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[[Network cards]] and other [[Computer network#Basic hardware components|active network components]] which are designed to meet IEC 60950 (Safety of Information Technology Equipment), will usually not comply with the more demanding isolation requirements of IEC 60601-1 (Medical Electrical Equipment), and therefore require additional isolation before being used in medical applications.
The transmission quality of a network isolator can be determined by measuring the industry standard parameters or characteristics, for example, [[insertion loss]], [[return loss]], and [[near
By definition, a network isolator completely eliminates each and every direct electrical connection between devices connected through a network connection - specifically all the data lines, and the [[Shielded cable|cable shield]].
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==Models==
Network isolators are commercially available in various designs, to suit customers’ requirements:
*
*
*
Voltage ratings (rated in kilovolts) and maximum transmission speeds (e.g. 1000BASE-T) vary between models.
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* [[Ethernet over twisted pair]]
* [[Ethernet physical layer]]
==
* Krankenhaus IT Journal Ausgabe 05/2008
* DeviceMed Ausgabe 10/2008
[[Category:Networking hardware]]
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